Record of views formed in response to inquiries

updated March 2015The following table provides a record of views formed and actions taken in relation to Standard 1.5.1 – Novel Foods of the Code. The table lists foods and food ingredients with views as to their status as non-traditional/novel foods. Prior to March 2008, these views were reached by the now superseded Novel Food Reference Group (NFRG) either alone or in consultation with Senior Food Officers of the Australian, State, Territory and New Zealand Governments, as well as the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (black text in the table below). Since March 2008, the views recorded are the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods (ANCF) (blue text in the table below). Although the FSANZ NFRG no longer exists, the views formed by this group still represent a considered judgement of the product on the basis of information provided by inquirers as well as some independent research by FSANZ.
Other foods and food ingredients not included in the table have been considered in response to inquiries. However, views in relation to these items have not yet been formed, pending receipt of further information requested from the inquirer.
Enforcement of the Code is the responsibility of the Australian state and territory governments and the New Zealand Government. Accordingly, the interpretation and application of Standard 1.5.1, including decisions about the novelty of a food or food ingredient, is ultimately the responsibility of those jurisdictions.

Important Notice

The composition, form and manner in which a product is presented, as well as the information available in relation to a product, may vary and this may affect the status of the product under Standard 1.5.1. Therefore, the information in the table should only be treated as a general guide, and you should not expect that a view reached about a food or food ingredient listed in the table will always apply in relation to apparently similar products. The views indicated may be subject to review and amendment.

Enquirers are encouraged to seek independent legal or professional advice in relation to queries.

Record of views formed by the FSANZ Novel Foods Reference Group or the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods

(Entries included since the last update are highlighted in yellow, black text designates views of the superseded NFRG, blue text designates views of the ACNF)

Food or food ingredient

Outcome View

Justification/Comment

Acacia rigidula

Non-traditional food

Novel food

No tradition of use as food in Australia and New Zealand. Potential for adverse effects if consumed. Safety not established.

History of safe consumption in other countries. No safety concerns identified.

African mango seed – aqueous extract (Irvingia gabonensis)

Non-traditional food

Novel food

Non-traditional food in Australia and New Zealand. Tradition of use of the seed in western Africa when dried. However, no tradition of use when prepared as an aqueous extract. Purported weight loss effects of the aqueous extract require additional assessment before it can be sold as a food in Australia and New Zealand.

No tradition of use of this extract as a food ingredient in Australia and New Zealand. Safety not established for proposed pattern and level of use and composition of extract requires additional assessment before it can be sold as a food in Australia and New Zealand.

Note: This view differs from a previous apple polyphenol product (see above entry). The extract that is subject to this view is highly refined and contains levels of specific polyphenols that, coupled with the intended levels of use, is likely to result in greater dietary exposure than would occur from consumption of apples and other foods that may contain these polyphenols.

Arachidonic acid (ARA) sourced from Fungus Mortierella alpina

Traditional food for infants

Not novel food

Traditional food for infants with no safety concerns identified based on this use.

Argan oil (derived from the fruit kernels of Argania spinosa)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

History of safe use in other countries. Chemical composition consistent with other vegetable based edible oils.

Asafoetida (Ferala assafoetida)

Traditional food

Not novel food

Tradition of use as a spice in Australia and New Zealand.

Astragalus membranaceous

(powdered root added to powdered chocolate beverage at 0.25% w/w)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

No safety concerns identified at proposed level of use.

Bacillus coagulans (probiotic bacteria)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

Non-traditional in Australia and New Zealand, although some evidence of use in natto (Japanese fermented soybean product). No safety concerns identified.

Derived from a cross between citrus and cumquat. Appears to be available interchangeably with cumquats.

Calcium fructoborate

Non-traditional food

Novel food

Non-traditional when added to foods. Safety concerns based on potential for increased intake of boron.

Calcium sucrose phosphate

(intended use at up to 2% of carbohydrate content of a range of foods)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

No safety concerns identified at intended levels of use.

Camelina oil (Camelina sativa)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

Non-traditional food in Australia and New Zealand. No safety concerns identified, noting that erucic acid content of edible oils is subject to a maximum level of 20,000mg/kg in Standard 1.4.1 – Contaminants and Natural Toxicants - of the Code.

Camelina spice (Camelina sativa)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

Non-traditional food in Australia and New Zealand. No safety concerns identified.

This view is for Camelina spice only, where the seed of Camelina sativa has been roasted and ground into powder for use as a spice.

Camu camu fruit (Myrciaria dubia)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

No safety concerns identified. No concerns regarding composition.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L) – frozen fruit pulp

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

History of use in South America. No safety concerns identified. No concerns regarding composition.

Non-traditional food in Australia and New Zealand. No safety concerns identified.

Chlorella sorokiniana

Traditional food

Not novel food

Tradition of use of Chlorella species as a food in Australia and New Zealand. Chlorella sorokiniana is now classified as a separate Chlorella species, after previously being included within the classification of Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

Citrin (5-hydroxycitric acid)

Non-traditional food

Novel food

Safety concerns based on potential for adverse effects in humans.

Cocoa fruit (Theobroma ncar) – frozen puree

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

Non-traditional food in Australia and New Zealand. History of use as a food in South America. No indications of safety concerns.

Use of whole fruit of coffee plant is not traditional in Australia and New Zealand (although use of the seed, or coffee bean, is traditional). History of use in Africa and Middle East. Safety not established.

Colostrum (bovine, pre-milk produced by the cow’s mammary glands in the first 72 hours after birth of the calf)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

Non-traditional food in the population in Australia and New Zealand. No safety concerns identified.

(This view has been amended to correct the previous reference to bovine colostrum being a traditional food for infants. The ACNF considered that bovine colostrum is not a traditional food for infants).

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

Non-traditional food

Novel food

Safety concerns based on structure and proposed pattern and level of use. Two Applications received by FSANZ in 2008 (A1005 and A1012)

Cordyceps sinensis

Non-traditional food

Novel food

No tradition of use of Cordyceps sinensis as a food in Australia and New Zealand. Safety is not established as a food – potential for pharmacological effects based on its use as a traditional medicine. In addition, potential adverse effects have been reported in scientific literature.

Limited evidence of use as a food in Australia and New Zealand. However, there is a history of safe use as a food in other countries. No identified safety concerns based on the composition of the fruit.

Limited evidence of use as a food in Australia and New Zealand. However, there is a history of safe use as a food in other countries. No identified safety concerns based on the composition of the fruit.

Note. This view relates only to the edible portion of the fruit of Cornus officinalis.

Cranberry extract powder

Traditional food

Not novel food

Cranberry extract powder produced from cranberry juice concentrate. Sugars and organic solids are removed, while phenolic compounds are retained in the extract. Intended use of the extract in beverage products as a source of phenolic compounds. Components of cranberry extract powder have a history of consumption from cranberry juice products.

This view only applies to cranberry extract powder added to beverages at a level that ensures the concentration of phenolic compounds in the final product is not greater than the concentration of these compounds in cranberry juice products.

α-Cyclodextrin

Non-traditional food

Novel food

Safety not established for proposed pattern and level of use Application to FSANZ (A494). Permission in Standard 1.5.1.

γ-Cyclodextrin

Non-traditional food

Novel food

Safety not established for proposed pattern and level of use. Application to FSANZ (A438). Permission in Standard 1.5.1.

Dairy mineral concentration (Lactosalt Optitaste)

Non-traditional food

Not novel food

Non-traditional food in Australia and New Zealand in context presented. Isolation and concentration of milk minerals and subsequent addition to other foods is not consistent with the history of consumption of dairy products. No safety concerns identified.